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M! IRISH COLLEACIIES OF NEW 111111 



l^eminiscences and Experiences of a Journalist, 
1801 to 1901 



Copyright, 1901 
By THOMAS J, CUMMINS 



IN MtMORY OF THE DEAD. 

IN COMPLIMENT OF THE LIVING. 

IN AROUME.NT FOR THt RIGHT. 

IN ILXPOSURt: OF TI1K WRONG 






SOUVENIR COPY 




THOMAS J. CUMMINS. 



MI IRISH COLLEAGUES OE NEW IIIRK 



l^eminiscences and Experiences of a Journalist, 
1801 to 1901 



Copyright, 1901 
By THOMAS J. CUMMINS 



IN MEMORT or THE DEAD. 

IN COMPLIMENT OF THE LIVING. 

IN ARGUMENT FOR THE: RIGHT. 

IN ElXPOSURi: OF THE ^VRONG. 



SOUVENIR COPY. 



INTRODUCTORY. 

This " souvenir " pamphlet is now published by the author for 
these reasbns : — 

1. In order that it may be finally preserved among the archives 

of the American Irish Historical Society, of which I am a 
member. 

2. That it may be kept by friends and relatives in sad testimony 

of the eventful lives of brilliant, loyal men who radiantly 
and ably fought by my side in the wearing battles of the 
newspaper field. 

3. As a compliment to the living, active colleagues of to-day of 

the same profession. 

4. As an exploitation and explanation of the American Metro- 

politan newspaper world of the past, the present and the 
future, with some serious suggestions which may prove 
of especial advantage. 

Since the recent publication of my original article in the Buffalo 
Uiiion-Tiuics, Irish World, Albany Argus, St. Louis Church- 
Progress and other newspapers and magazines of the United 
States and Europe, I have been compelled to add considera- 
bly to its length and scope. 

Thomas J. Cummins. 

Press Club Rooms, 

116 Nassau Street, 

New York City. 



MY IRISH COLLEAGUES OF NEW YORK 



Reminiscences and Experiences of a Journalist, 
1861 to 1901. 

The Civil War — Some of the Celebrated Writers of Those Days : 
Thomas B. Connery, Frederic Hudson, William F. Lyons, Charles S. 
Shanahan, John J. Ryan, Henry G. Hayes, Charles G. Halpine ("Miles 
O'Reilly,") Finley Anderson, James C. Fitzpatrick, John McClenahan — 
Herald Staff's First Banquet — Noted Incident of Arrival Back of Sixty- 
Ninth Regiment, N. G., from the War — A "Spanish-Irish" Writer of 
Fame — The Sensational "Wild Beast" Story in Herald; One of Its 
Authors, Henry Vincent O'Connor, and His Remarkable Personal- 
ity — Pen Picture of "Jeff" Davis When Released on Bail — O'Connor 
at Albany and Washington ; His Sad Death — Jerome J. Collins, of 
North Pole Expedition, fitted out by James Gordon Bennett — Frozen 
and Starved to Death — Henry McCloskey and Thomas Kinsella, of 
Brooklyn Eagle — A Distinguished Musical Critic, M. A. Cooney — James 
J. O'Kelly, M. P., Confidant of Parnell— General Howard Carroll- 
Frank W. Mack— Alfred M. Downes— Michael F. Blake— P. J. Hanway— 
Wm. N. Penny — Many Others of Brilliancy, Originality and Force — 
Tribute to 'the Dead — Press Criticisms, Explanatory and Otherwise — 
Points from the " Inner " Circle — Bigots and Bigotry — Forgetfulness 
and Ingratitude for Literary Fleroes — Political Reminiscences — Echoes 
from the Great Platt-Conkling Senatorial Struggle — The " Bright 
Young" Journalist and the "Man of Experience" Contrasted — The 
" Higher " Mission of the Press — Yesterday, To-day and To-morrow — 
Some Earnest Considerations for Press Clubs, etc., etc. 



Iiy IRISH COLLEACliES OF NEW YORK 



Reminiscences and Experiences of a Journalist, 
1861 to 1901 



Suinewhat Expliinatory. 

The subject which I was recently re- 
quested to present to the members of 
the American Irish Historical Society, 
contains such a wealth of reminiscences, 
interesting personalities, and tragic and 
comic incidents that it will be indeed 
very difficult for me to condense what 
I have to say in any article of this de- 
scription. Volumes might he written 
in depicting the influences and person- 
alities of the Irish race and their im- 
mediate descendants on the press of 
New York. I must, under these cir- 
cumstances, consequently, confine my- 
self — at least in the present task— to a 
few of my own peculiar experiences, and 
the colleagues of my nationality and de- 
scent with whom I have been more or 
less intimately associated for over 
thirty years. 

Civil "War Opens the Tale. 

When the first gun sent its 
shot flying in rebellious attack on Fort 
Sumter, I was then connected 
with the New York Herald. I was at 
the time between seventeen and eig^ht- 
een years old. The staff of that paper 
— not alone in its literary, but in its 
business and mechanical departments — 
was nearly all composed of men of either 
Irish birth or direct lineage. It is easy 
then, to conclude that the foundations 
of this great paper, which possibly, at 
that time and to-day, was and is one 
of the most influential in the world, was 
founded, directed and advanced by 
Irishmen. I do not, in this assertion, 
mean to detract one iota from the great 
intellect of that splendid jour- 
nalist, James Gordon Bennett, senior, 
the starter and organizer of the Herald. 
He was a Scotchman by birth, mar- 
ried to an Irish lady, but was early 
to recognize the loyalty, ability and 
vigor of his Irish employes, and at all 
times held them in the highest esteem. 

Early Associates. 

Among the distinguished journalists 
of this class, who were members of the 
Herald staff in these early days was 
Mr. Thomas B. Connery, afterwards 
Albany correspondent, city editor, 



Washington correspondent, and for very 
many years managing editor. He suc- 
ceeded Mr. Frederick Hudson as man- 
aging editor, and I cannot let this oc- 
casion pass without paying a warm 
tribute of the highest respect and es- 
teem for that splendid gentleman. Mr. 
Connery graduated in journalism under 
the guidance of Mr. Hudson, and was 
selected for the highest position on the 
Herald by the present owner, Mr. James 
Gordon Bennett, junior. 

Others of that date and for many 
jears later on, who were brilliant and 
more than especially equipped in their 
Iirofession, were Captain William F. 
Lyons, one of the national Irish patriots 
of "48 fame; Mr. John J. Ryan, after- 
wards head of the Paris Herald's bu- 
reau; Mr. Charles S. Shanahan, one of 
the most versatile, and extraordinarily 
talented men of his day; Mr. Henry G. 
Hayes, now of Washington; Mr. Stephen 
Hayes, Mr. Finley Anderson; Mr. Wil- 
liam Anderson; Mi-. James C. Fitzpat- 
rick; Mr. Edward T. Flynn, Mr. John 
McClenahan, father and son, and Mr. 
Robert W. Bligh. 

First Banciiiet of Herald Staff. 

The country, at this time, was in the 
throes of civil war; all tne newspapers 
sent special cori'espondents to the front. 
Their achievements are matters of 
history. I recollect, in 1864, attending 
a dinner at the Astor House, of the 
Herald staff, given in honor of Mr. Fin- 
ley Anderson, previous to his departure 
for the war as correspondent for the 
Herald. He was attached to the staff 
of General McClellan. His letters 
and dispatches from fields of battle 
were of the highest order in descriptive 
power, and truthful narrative. Many 
of the gentlemen mentioned by me here- 
in were present at that banquet. 
Speeches were made by nearly all in 
bidding farewell to Mr. Anderson. 
The occasion was one of inspira- 
tion and good-fellowship, subsequent- 
ly, followed up annually for several 
years afterwards by Herald banquets. 

War Scenes and War Writers. 

Mr. Charles S. Shanahan, whom I have 
singled out as particularly vei'satile and 
talented, was the son of an Irishman, 



educated at Oxford, born, I think, in 
Spain. He was the typical Spaniard in 
appearance: over six feet high, with 
fine physique, black sparkling eyes and 
a most engaging manner. He spoke 
some dozen languages, was a famous 
descriptive writer, as well as a short- 
hand expert of exceptional ability. In 
fact, he was one of the most accomp- 
lished literary geniuses of that or the 
present day. Many will recollect his 
letters from Mexico, where he was sent 
to describe the terrible condition of af- 
fairs there at the close of Maximillian's 
reign, and the tragic end of that un- 
fortunate Emperor. Mr. Shanahan was 
my friend in those days, and we were 
often together. He had the careless, 
free and easy manner of the "Bohe- 
mian" in make-up. I do not say this 
in an offensive sense, for the "Bohe- 
mian," to my mind, has many qualities 
that command love and respect. I rec- 
ollect on one occasion Mr. Shanahan 
was directed by Mr. Hudson to write 
a two or three column description of the 
return of the 69th N. Y. National Guard 
Regiment from the war, after its Bull 
Run experience. This gallant Irish 
organization had fought valiant- 
ly at the battle of Bull Run— its 
colonel, Michael Corcoran being detained 
prisoner — and with decimated ranks 
and tattered colors returned to New 
York after a three months' service as 
a National Gu.ard regiment, to recruit 
its broken ranks. 

Return of the Sixty-Xintli. 

The popular reception it received was 
most enthusiastic. I had written up its 
departure to the war myself, and was 
anxious to watch its march back 
through the streets of New York. Two 
hours before it landed at the Battery, 
Mr. Shanahan and I lunched together 
ir, a famous old-time restaurant in 
Park Row called "Windust's." Some 
jovial spirits — poets and writers of the 
time — were frequenters of this estab'ish- 
inent. At lunch they came and talked 
freely with my friend Shanahan. 
"Spirituality" was very prominent in 
this intercourse — so prominent that Mr. 
Shanahan forgot all about the 69th, or 
that a war of the rebellion was at all 
in progress. Suddenly, the shouts of the 
multitude were heard coming from 
Broadway, and the salute of cannon 
vibrated from the Battery. Drums were 
heard beating, people rushed into the 
street from all quarters by tens of thou- 
sands, to welcome back the gallant 69th. 
I called Shanahan's attention to the fact 
that the regiment was about to move up 
Broadway and the necessity for seeing 
the display. He laughed and remained 
in Windust's. until the whole display 
had ended. He never saw a member of 
the 69th that day. nor the waving ban- 
ners that fluttered from thousands upon 
thouFands of homes and welcomers. The 
poetic Bohemian sentiment was upper- 
most; "spirituality" and good-fellow- 
.=;hip occupied the balance of the day in 
the weird recesses of Windust's. My 



dear friend's writing powers, I thought, 
were subordinated to this "spiritual" 
feeling, but I was mistaken. The next 
day the Herald came out from the hands 
of Shanahan with one of the most beau- 
tiful and splendid accounts of the recep- 
tion to the 69th that I have ever read. 

Mr. Shanahan died suddenly in Mex- 
ico. Although never in Ireland, he loved 
that country and its people. He recog- 
nized flatteringly the blood that flowed 
in his veins, and never forgot the fact, 
with pride and laudation, that his father 
was a true Irishman with all that this 
grand nationality conveys and inspires. 

The Wild Beast Story. 

Going on later— (as I will not in this 
review seek to deal with my reminis- 
censes in a. consecutive way) — I will 
mention the personality of Mr. Harry 
V. O'Connor, who was also Cinequalled 
in his career as a descriptive writer, 
and as a whole-souled, generous gentle- 
)T,an. All, possibly, recollect the 
famous "wild beast story," of six col- 
umns, published in the Herald one fine 
morning. The narrative was fictitious, 
but was pictured so vividly and with 
such precise detail, that nearly every 
leader of the Herald of that day thought 
ii was the exact trutJi. The last line 
or two alone gave the true impression 
of the story. 

It portrayed the escape of the animals 
from Central Park, and their terrific 
operations all over the city, on trains, 
ferry-boats and in private houses. So 
fearfully realistic was the picture that 
mothers ran wildly to the schools to 
bring their children home, while others 
kept them indoors fearing that they 
might be made victims for the escaped 
lion and tiger. Mr. O'Connor was one 
of the authors and originators of this 
extraordinary article. The greater part, 
however, I understand was written by 
Mr. J. I. C. Clarke. O'Connor was also 
correspondent for The Herald, in Wash- 
ington and Richmond, Va., for several 
years. He had the facility of making 
\ery warm friends of all with whom 
he was brought in contact. 

O'Connor's Reminiscences. 

He was the intimate of Charles Sum- 
ner, James G. Blaine, Horace Greeley, 
Samuel J. Tilden, A. Oakley Hall, Gen. 
Scofield, Gen. Mahone, and many other 
distinguished public men. I recollect his 
giving me a very interesting account of 
an interview he once had with the great 
Archbishop John McHale, of Tuam, then 
nearing the century mark in age. He 
met the archbishop at a watering-place 
in Ireland, called Bray. This great 
ecclesiastic gave him many thrilling 
reminiscenses of his wonderful life, and 
of the many extraordinary characters 
he had met in a long lifetime. 

O'Connor was correspondent of the 
Pierald during one of the frequent rev- 
olutions in Hayti. He there became 
the confidant and friend of the Prin- 
cess Souloque. wrote a very vivid 
description of that lady, whose com- 



rlexion was as blnck as nislit. but who 
was ail accom')lisliPd linguist with var- 
ied literary tastes of a high order, hav- 
ing been educated in France. At O'Con- 
nor's death, which occurred some few 
years ago. he left in iny possession 
seme hundred pages of peculiar remin- 
iscences of men of all classes. I ani 
engaged in pr-jparing a work of my 
own experiences somewhat on similar 
lines, which I hope soon to bring out. 
Mr. O'c^onnor's reminiscences I intend 
to be part of -hat publication'. 

Albany Incidents. 

O'Connor was my colleague at Albany 
for five years, while I acted there as 
correspondent of the Herald. He was 
the most perfect man that I e\'er knew. 
Simple in manner, abs';lutely free from 
small jealousies, full of tender 
sympathy for his fellowmen, poetic and 
uieamy in temperament, faithful to 
friends and exceptionally tolerant of 
foes. He had. too. in his character, 
fieely developed in his writings, a vein 
of intense humor, making his literary 
work most interesting. 

On one occasion when Avith me in 
Albany, an important bill had been de- 
1'f ated through the efforts of the lobby. 
That night there was joy in the bar- 
rooms, and congratulations around the 
hotel vestibul.^s. I asked O'Connor to 
describe the scenes. He did so, wind- 
ing up with an interview from a New 
York assemblyman of lofiuacious in- 
dividuality. This gentleman came from 
a down-to\An ward in New York, and 
made this statement to O'Connor: 
"I have telegraphed aU my male 
relatives to come ^ji'ut to this 
country at once, tellirfg them that all 
they have to do, after spending a short 
t'me in New York city, is to come up 
here to Albany, attend the I^egislature, 
and get $500 or $1,000 frequently for 
saying 'aye' or 'no,' or saying nothing." 

Inspired Intervie^vs. 

On another occasion, at the conclu- 
sion of a noted Democratic State con- 
vention at Saratoga, I was telegraphed 
from the Herald office to talk with all 
the leaders, and get their opinions of 
the situation. That I did, among them 
being Mr. Hubert O. Thompson, then 
commissioner of public works: Mr. John 
Kelly, the Tammany leader; Alderman 
Kirk, and several others. The next 
day when I took up The Herald, to my 
surprise, I found that these gentlemen 
bad also been interviewed in New 
York city: the double interviews ap- 
pearing in the .same issue of the paper. 
Of course I could not understand the 
situation, and did not until my return 
tn New York. Then I cjuietly inquired, 
and found that O'Connor had been sent 
out from the city department to find 
those gentlemen and interview them. 
He immediately went to a rear room 
of the famous Astor House hotel, and 
wrote out his interviews with the gen- 
tlemen mentioned, Avhom I had seen in 



Saratoga, and whom he (O'Connor) 
never saw. The marxelous i)art of the 
work was found in the fact that my 
interviews and those of O'Connor were 
almost identical. The prophetic talent 
of the man was able to determine what 
these political leaders really would and 
ought to say under the circumstances. 
I do not believe any such incident ever 
happened in a newspaper office before. 

With "Jeff IJavis. 

O'Connor related to me his sensation- 
al experience while in Richmond when 
Jefferson Davis was brought from 
Fortress Monroe a prisoner under 
charge of Major General Burton, for a 
hearing before the United States Cir- 
cuit Judge Underwood, on the question 
of admitting the noted ex-president of 
the Southern Confederacy to bail. 
O'Connor said to me: "The court room 
was crowded to excess when the pris- 
oner was brought in. At least a hun- 
dred editors and correspondents of 
leading papers throughout the country 
were on hand. Then there were a num- 
ber of ex-Confederate officers, includ- 
ing Gen. Bradley T. Johnson, Gen. 
Imboden, Gen. Jubal Early, Gen. Fitz- 
hugh Lee, with his blonde beard and 
moustache. Gen. L. I. Anderson, Col. 
Mosby, and among civilians were John 
Mitchell, who edited the Richmond Ex- 
aminer during the war, Beverly Tucker, 
R. M. I. Hunter, ex-Gov. Wise, Cornel- 
ius Vanderbilt, Horace Greeley, Gerrit 
Smith and others. Chas. O'Connor ap- 
peared for the prisoner, and fastening 
his searching glance on the country 
judge laid down the law in the case 
and made a cogent plea in behalf of his 
client for immediate admission to bail. 
William M. Evarts, for the government, 
evidently by pre-arrangement, stood 
up and declared that he had no argu- 
ment to make in opposition to the plea 
n'ade by the eloquent counsel for the 
defense for bail, and acquiesced in the 
points he had made. The judge, by this 
time, had nothing left for him to do 
but to .grant and fix the bail, which he 
did, and put the sum at $100,000. Forth- 
with Horace Greeley, Gerrit Smith and 
Cornelius Vanderbilt advanced to the 
table, and put their respective signa- 
tures to the bond, and the prisoner was 
declared by the court released from 
custody 

Greeley and Davis. 

At this point in the proceedings, Hor- 
ace Greeley moved over in the direction 
of the prisorer, who was now a free 
man ostensibly, and the latter, rising 
to his feet, met him half way, and 
shook hands, Davis bowing his head 
graciously and saying: "I thank you, 
Mr. Greeley, for what you have done," 
Gieeley responded, lookinar kindly 
through his spectacles: "T did it, Mr. 
Davis, in the interests of harmony and 
reconciliation." After shaking hands 
with his other two bondsmen, the liber- 
ated chieftain of the Confederacy 



10 



quickly left the room, and entered a 
carriage waiting for him in front of the 
court house. From there to the Spots- 
wood Hotel, the streets were densely 
lined by men with uncovered heads, 
who, by looks and demeanor, showed 
silent sympathy for their former leader. 
In the evening Davis and his wife 
held a reception in the parlors of the 
Spotswood Hotel, and a great crowd 
met there. One among the number who 
went up to shake hands had his two 
daughters with him, and as he ap- 
pi cached he cried out: "Mr. Davis, I 
^^ as born in Virginia fifty-fiv^ yea''s 
ago but I have lived twenty-five years 
in New York city." "I see," replied Mr. 
Davis, with that felicity of expression 
v/hich was characteristic of htm. as he 
glanced at the two blooming daughters 
beside the man who addressed him, 
"that a tree of Virginia wherever plant- 
ed spreads its branches all over." When 
Davis and Greeley shook hands. Dr. 
George W. Hosmer and I were sitting 
at a table a few feet away taking notes 
oP the proceedings and of the incidents 
of the occasion for The Heiald. Here 
was the veteran abolitionist who had 
written the bitterest things against the 
Scuth and its people, and the author of 
the cry, "On to Richmond," shaking 
hands affectionately %vith the veteran 
upholder of secession and slavery, and 
chief of the conspiracy to destroy the 
Union. It ^^as a sight for the gods to 
witness and smile at the inconsistencies 
of mankind." 

Sad Death. 

O'Conno-'s hea'th broke down three or 
four years before his death. He was 
physically a very strong man, but the 
exactions of his profession and care- 
lessness of life brought death very soon. 
He suffered terribly from rheumatism, 
but I never yet heard him complain. In 
one week, he buried two of his children 
— splendid boys, one six and the other 
eight. They died of diphtheria. Shortly 
after, he wrote me a letter of many 
pages, pathetic, eloquent and beautiful. 
I keep it still as a memento of niy dear 
friend, and often look it over with 
moist eyes. O'Connor died in 
New York city, on a St. Pat- 
rick's Day, March 17. He was 
propped up in bed, feeling somewhat 
better. A local Irish organization was 
passing his window at the time, headed 
by a band of music. The band struck 
up the air "St. Patrick's Day," O'Con- 
nor lifted his head, smiled faintly, and 
fell back. dead. 

A brother of Mr. H. V. O'Connor, 
Mr. Edward O'Connor, is also a jour- 
nalist of to-day and is of marked 
ability. H? has been connected with 
the Evening News for a long time, and 
was formerly a valuable attache of the 
Evening Telegram, occasionally writ- 
ing for the Herald. Mr. O'Connor pos- 
sesses many of the characteristics of 
his brilliant brother, both in point of 
literary ability and general geniality. 



Mossrs. MfCIosUey and Kinsella. 

The Brooklyn Eagle owed much of its 
success— in fact nearly all of- its great 
literary success— to the abilities of two 
Irishmen, Henry McCloskey and Thom- 
as Kinsella. The former was probably 
one of the most powerful editorial writ- 
ers of the time, and I scarcely know of 
his equal lo-day. Words fell from 
his pen with terrific force, and struck 
home with especial vehemence in po- 
litical attack. His successor. Mr. Kin- 
sella, was also a man of great vigor in 
a literary sense, and followed up with 
undoubted talent the career of his pred- 
ecessor. I am glad to say that the 
Eagle continues in this line of excep- 
tional editorial ability in the hands of 
its two magnificently equipped writers. 
Messrs. St. Clair McKelway and 
William H. Muldoon. Both Messrs. 
Kinsella and McCloskey are dead. They 
have left brilliant records behind them. 

The North Pole Hero. 

Death, too, in a dramatic and fearful 
way. ended the career of another cele- 
brated Irish journalist, Mr. Jerome J. 
Collins. He will be remembered as the 
originator of the weather prophecy ser- 
vice, first intelligently inaugurated by 
The Herald, and afterwards adopted 
all over the world. Mr. Collins went as 
a special correspondent of The Herald 
on board the ill-fated "Jeanette" in 
search of the North Pole. The sad end- 
ing of that expedition in which several 
lives, among them the commander of 
the expedition. Captain Long, were 
sacrificed is well known. Poor Collina 
was found lying dead in the snow be- 
side Captain Long, having died of ex- 
posure and starvation. Clasped in hisi 
hand was the emblem of his faith — the 
Cross. He was a gentleman of mag- 
nificent manhood, zealous patriotism, 
sincere Christianity and fine abilities. 
Recently I stood over his grave in the 
vicinity of Cork, Ireland, where his 
body was interred beside that of his 
respected mother. 

Myron A. ("o«niey siiiil Olliers. 

The best musical and theatrical critic 
01 his era, as well as one of the best 
all-around journalists, was Mr. Myron 
A. Cooney. This gentleman w'as born 
in Dublin and served twenty years on 
The Herald with me. He subsequently 
moved to Albany and was for seven 
years chief editorial writer on The 
Argus, succeeding Mi'. McKelway. I 
have heard Mr. Patrick S. Gilmore, the 
famous Irish musical leader, say 
that Mr. Cooney was the best equipped 
musical critic that he knew. Both these 
gentlemen ha,ve passed away from 
earthly labor. 

Then, too, I can readily call special 
attention to another superior journal- 
istic light, who I am glad to say, is 
one of my colleagues of the American 
Irish Historical Society, Mr. J. I. C. 



11 



Clark, whose varied accomplishments 
as poet, prose writer and dramatist 
are so well known. He was one of 
The Herald's editors for many years. 
Among- our other living friends of 
equal capacity are Mr. Robert Grifhn 
Morris, formerly of The Times, Herald 
and Telegram; Mr. Thomas F. Wil- 
liams now of The Sun; Mr. Owen 
J, Marrin, Mr. Harry Macdona and 
Mr. John Mullaly. The last men- 
tioned, after leaving The Herald, 
started a weekly publication called the 
"Metropolitan Record." He was The 
Herald's correspondent on board the 
"Niagara," which laid the first Atlantic 
cable. Mr. Mullaly is a highly re- 
spected citizen of New York to-day. and 
has had the good fortune of achieving 
great success in the business world out- 
side of the drudgery of newspaper ex- 
istence. 

Brillixiiit ]tleii. Liviiiu' nii*l Ueiid. 

It would take many pages to narrate 
leading incidents in tjfte lives of such 
brilliant men as John Clancy of the 
Leader, William Stuart and Fitz-James 
O'Brien, Congressman-elect T. J. 
Creamer has also been a decidedly able 
member of the New York press. He at 
one time published a spicy weekly 
called "The Citizen." I propose to deal 
later on with many of these personali- 
ties in ancther way. Then, too, v.'e 
had the peerless and brilliant Charlen 
G. Halpine (Miles O'Reilly), soldier, 
poet, politician in its higher sense, and 
wonderfully effective prose writer. He 
at one time published a weekly called 
"The Citizen." * 

I would further recall the very dis- 
tinguished Irish editors of early days, 
John Mitchell, Thomas D'Arcy McGee. 
General Dennis F. Burke and Michael 
Doheny. It is needless to call atten- 
tion specifically to the great abilities of 
Mitchell and McGee. General Burke, be- 
fore he became one of the editors of the 
New York Tablet, was a gallant soldier, 
fighting his way from a private in the 
ranks of Meagher's Irish Brigade to 
the post of commander. He took part 
in every prominent battle in the war, 
was frequently wounded and had a 
most distinguished career. 

Then, too, on the Herald we had Mr. 
James J. O'Kelly, now a member of 
parliament in London, and an honored 
comrade of Charles Stewart Parnell. 
Mr. O'Kelly's literary career has been 
remarkable. Before coming to this 
counti-y he served in the French army, 
was for several years editor and cor- 
respondent for the Herald, was taken 
prisoner while in Cuba and there nearly 
lost his life. 

Looking back still further I might 
mention Mr. John Kempston, who re- 
ported the celebrated Forest divorce 
case for tlie Herald, and who was killed 
while crossing to the Fulton Ferry, being 
run over accidentally by a wagon while 
entering the ferry boat; Mr. John Dunn 
who. in company with James C. Fitz- 
patrick, went with the Burnside ex- 

LefG. 



pedition to North Carolina as Herald 
correspondent and who died on a 
Mississippi steamboat on his way home, 
having contracted typhoid fever while 
in the discharge of his duty. Mr. Fitz- 
patrick was also a man of great ability, 
served most efficiently as corre- 
spondent in the Civil War, and later on 
acted as financial editor, Albany cor- 
respondent for the Herald, and manag- 
ing editor of the Telegram. Mr. Fitz- 
patrick is still living in Brooklyn. 

Casually, I might mention John 
Devoy, Dominick May, Michael J. 
Kelly, P. H, Keady, Charles Killeen, 
Chas. H, Farrell, .John Reville. Dan 
O'Connell, the two Doyles, Sam Mc- 
Keever, "Dan" Kirwan, the two Mc- 
Kennas, Gerald McKenny and the two 
Stephens'. Sam McKeever was bril- 
liant, original, spectacular and imagin- 
ative. His theatrical criticisms glit- 
tered with or'ginality an 1 force. Gerald 
McKenny was the son of an Irish bar- 
rister of distinction, born in Dublin 
and educated there and at the Univer- 
sity of Bonn! in Germany. He was a 
linguist, musician, stenographer, wit 
and general good fellow. His work on 
the Herald was marked with especial 
brilliancy. Those who knew him cher- 
ish the memory of his geniality with 
tenderness. He acted as correspondent 
in the Franco-Prussian war and on the 
Darien expedition, and also during the 
trouble which threatened a war be- 
tween Spain and this country growing 
out of the Virginus imbroglio. He died 
several years ago. 

Then there was Edward J. O'Reilley, 
connected Avith the Times, Evening Ex- 
press and Sunday Mercury, and fre- 
fjuently also a writer for the Herald. 
His son inherited his father's qualities. 
Both are dead. The older was a perfect 
encyclopedia of general information and 
a man of thorough honesty and extra- 
ordinary originative powers. For years 
he published in the Mercury a series of 
\ery interesting articles on the immense 
Trinity church property as owned by 
Anneke Jan's heirs. He also furnished 
to the Sunday Mercury for years, week 
after week, a series of bitter articles 
against the then comptroller, Andrew 
H. Green, which showed a wealth of 
information relative to financial affairs 
in the city of New York and the curious 
inside workings of political parties, 

Mr. John ,1. Cummins joined the 
Herald in 18fi0, and remained on that 
paper for over twenty years. He re- 
ported many important cases, and was 
a shoi-thand writer of particular talent. 
Among the sensational New York 
tragedies which he wrote up fully, in 
a dramatic, emotional style, character- 
istic of him, was the assassination of 
Virgini,a Stewart by McDonald in 
Broadway, Mr. Cummins for several 
years after ceasing active connection 
with the Herald, was one of the 
official stenographers of the Court of 
Common Pleas. He was noted for an 
extreme patriotism for his native 
country and a valiant defendei' of her 
prerogatives. He died some years ago. 



12 



Irisli American Press. 

Among the living-, worlting, brainy 
and effective Irisii journalists of the 
present day. I might, too. particularly 
mention Messrs. Austin and Patrick 
Ford proprietors of the Irish World 
and Freeman's Journal. These gentle- 
men have always been patriotic and, 
while Irishmen of the most intense con- 
victions, never failed to be Americans. 
They built up a fine property, and the 
Irish World to-day as I understand it. 
has neaiiv half a million of circulation. 
In addition to other living journalists, 
I might call attention to the Hennessey 
family, father and sons. The «orrnei- 
was for many years city editor of the 
Times, and the sons have graduated 
in all the fields of newspaper life m 
New York. Mr. John A. Hennessey is, 
a leading member of the New York 
Press Club, and to his indefatigable ef- 
forts much of the success of that in- 
stitution belong. I have the pleasure 
of being one of his brethren m that or- 
ganization and know whereof I speak. 
This Mr. Hennessey was formerly a 
member of assembly and distinguished 
himself considerably in Albany. An- 
other brother has just been elected 
State senator and no doubt will be 
heard of in the political field in good 
time, whil? a third has become very 
successful in the financial world. 

Dr M J. Walr,h is publisher and pro- 
prietor of the Sunday Democrat and 
Catholic Herald. The management ot 
his two papers gives evidence of de- 
cided ability. 

Mr Char-l-s A. O'Rourke, formerly 
local agent of the New York Associated 
Press — a man of splendid ability and 
fine literary tastes. Mr. O'Rourke is 
row ensraged in syndicate and advertis- 
ing work on an extended scale and has 
also connections with Tiluropean ne^vs 

Mr. Patrick Meehan • is still at the 
helm of the Irish .American and well 
known and resnected on both sides of 
the Atlantic. Mr. Wm. L,. Cole, a re- 
spected veteran of this paper, is also 
still living. 

r»»leln-itie» of tlie Honr. 
Mr. P. J. Hanway, another active 
living journalist, was born in Dublin, 
and for many years was a highly re- 
spected and talented member of the 
staff of Brooklvn Standard Union. He 
is now proprietor of an insurance 
journal in New York, of particular in- 
tluence and character in its line— "The 
A'iailant." 

Mr. John W. McDonald graduated in 
the profession Avhile a boy on the News 
under the leadership of Mr. Benjamin 
■^^ood. Mr. McDonald has since been 
connected with the World and other 
newspapers, exhibiting exceotional abil- 
ity as a political writer. He is thor- 
oughly versed in the politics of city 
and nation and has a large personal 
ac(|uaintance among public men. He 
is still connected with the World. 



General Howard Carroll has had a 
very distinguished career. Born in 
Albany, in 1854, of Irish parentage, he 
was splendidly educated in Germany 
at Gottingen and Hanover. His fa her 
was a celebrated engineer and jeceiv ed 
decorations and complinients f^om all 
parts of the world as a bridge builder, 
notably from the king of Prussia. He 
was killed at the battle of Antietam 
while a federal officer, then only 
thirty-five vears old. For several 
vears before "the civil war he had acted 
ks chief engineer for the New York 
Central Railroad. He was a soldier of 
bravery and great distinction as well 
as a citizen of high repute and 
scholarly attainments. His son. How- 
ard, shortly after leaving colleg-e 
became attached to the literary staff 
of the New York Times, and m 18'4-&, 
was Albany correspondent for that 
paper. Subsequently he was trans- 
ferred to Washington for the same 
journal and later on filled several other 
important positions in this line. He 
finally became editor-in-chief ot tne 
Times. He was a particular personal 
friend of President Arthur and Senator 
Roscoe Conkling. The former was his 
guardian while a boy. and when he 
(Arthur) became president offered him 
the post of minister to Belgium. Mr. 
Carroll declined the kindly proffer, 
feeling that he could not afford the 
luxury of a diplomatic appointment 
with "a limited income. Later on, in 
ISS'' Mr Carroll ran for congressman- 
at-Targe in New York State against 
General Henry W. Slccum. receiving 
some 84,000 votes ahead of his Repub- 
lican ticket. But he was defeated as 
this was the famous year of the "Half- 
Breed-Stalwart" fight which prac- 
tically disrupted the Republican party 
throughout the country, resulting in 
the election of Grover Cleveland to 
the governorship by the tremendous 
majority of nearly 200.000. 

General Carroll married a beautiful 
and accomplished lady— daughter of 
ex-Congressman John H. Starin. He 
has thi-ee interesting children. He has 
written several interesting novels, 
among them, "Twelve Americans" and 
"A Mississippi Incident." He has also 
written two successful plays entitled 
"Yeast" and "An American Coun- 
tess" Mile. Rhea made a great hit in 
the latter character. In talking re- 
■ cently with Mr. Carroll he referred to 
this success facetiously by remarking, 
"The reason why the play took was 
because the public did not understand 
a word of the dialogue owing to the 
foreign accent of Mile. Rhea." 

General Carroll has branched out 
most successfully into business and is 
a wealthv man. He is nOw president 
of the Sicilian Asphalt Company and 
also larsrely engaged with his father- 
in-law in the transportation business. 
He was chief of artillery, with the 
rank of brigadier-general, on the staffs 
of Governors Morton and Black. He- 
has never entirely given up his con- 
nection -with literary and newspaper 



18 



puf.suii.s, anil has ahvavs been a bi-il- 
lumt (Ji-nament in auy of the walk.s n{ 
these lines of duty. He resides in New 
York city. 

From .Toiiriiali.Miii to Politics. 

Journalism has been a stepping stone 
to political and influential life as evi- 
denced in the most creditable careers 
of Mr. Alfred M. Downes and Mr 
Michael F. Blake. The former was 
connected with the Times and other 
promment ne^vspapers of the country 
and he made a bi-illiant reputation in 
the melropolis as \vell as at Washing- 
ton. His abilities and loyalty to 
friends atti acted the attention of Mr 
Van Wyck when that gentleman was 
elected mayor of Greater New York 
This resulted in the selection of Mr 
Downes as private secretary, a posi- 
tion which he to-day fills with marked 
ability. 

Mr. Michael F. Blake was a prom- 
inent journalist in California at the 
commencement of his professional 
duties. On coming- to New York he 
joined the Herald staff, where he re- 
mained for several years. His record 
IS also a brilliant one, both as political 
and g-eneral writer, and he has the 
esteem and respect of a larg-e circle of 
. friends. He is now clerk of the New- 
York board of aldermen. 

Mr. William N. Penny, clerk of the 
New York Court of General Sessions, 
also drifted from journalism to politics 
Mr. Penny is a gentleman of par- 
ticular literary talent, and has been 
infiuenlially connected with the Times 
and News. 

Mr. Hugh Hastings comes from a 
family of exceptional distinction in a 
literary, newspaper and political sense 
He is now the New York State His- 
torian, residing at Albany, a position 
m which he has been eminently suc- 
cessful. He was formerly prominent as 
a political and general writer of force 
and great intelligence on the New York 
Times, World and other leading- news- 
papers of the country. He acted as a 
very efficient special correspondent at 
Albany for sev?ral years for the Times 
and World. 

A colleague of the American Histor- 
ical Society, Mr. T. St. John Gaffney, 
a son of Limerick, city of the "Vio- 
lated Treaty," has exhibited a literary 
style in his various newspaper articles, 
1-nowledge of international affairs and 
a virility of literary ability that has 
commended itself to millions of readers. 
He has made himself quite efficient in 
this line in defense of his nation and of 
its rights, and on the side of the Boers 
in the terrific war waged against that 
valiant people. 

Mr. John E. Milholland, for many 
years one of the most talented editors 
of the New York Tribune, and an es- 
pecial friend and confidant of Mr. 
Whitelaw Reid, is the son of an 
Irishman: although born in this r,,un- 
II y he received most of his educa- 
tM.n in Ireland. Mr. Milholland (con- 



liary. I am sorry to say, to the almost 
invariable i-ule) has become wealthy in 
j'Lisiness and is now temjiorarilv resid- 
ing m London, England. He "is head 
oi the "Batchellor Pneumatic Tube 
( ompany," which has been so suc- 
te;--sful in the rapid transmis.sion of 
mails, mainly o-wing to the splendid 
bu.sine.ss abilities and strength of 
.■haracter of Mr. Milholland. He has 
always, too, been a writer and iournal- 
ist of great force. 

Fisiiik W. >Ia<-k. .-, Si,l...,,li,l .l»,i,„- 
alist aiul :i ( |<,s«. liioiMi ol >l > 
l>'i"ieinis. 

It will be noticed that 1 have con- 
fined my observations in this i>ami)h- 
let altogether to journalists of Irish 
birth or of Irish descent. Some day I 
intend to go outside of this limit, and 
give similar testimony to the labors 
and lives of very many able, distin- 
guished colleagues of other nationali- 
ties, living and dead, who have, too, 
fought valiantly beside me in the fierce 
literary battles of concluding years of 
the last century. 

One colleague of this class, however 
IS eminently entitled to a place among 
the men of whom I now write, as he 
was always their and my friend, as 
well as a most talented co-worker 
This is Mr. Prank W. Mack, now hold- 
ing the responsible position of super- 
intendent of the eastern division of the 
Associated Press, with headquarters in 
New York city. One of his most im- 
portant professional duties was per- 
formed while acting as special corre- 
spondent for the Associated Press with 
the recent Spa.nish-American peace 
commission. An excellent sketch of 
Mr. Mack was at the time published 
m the " Fourth Estate," from which I 
extract the following: •■ Mr. Mack was 
born in Pennsylvania, but has resided 
in New York State since he was six 
years old. He came to New York city 
in 1S79 and became a reporter upon 
the Herald, when T. B. Connery was 
Its managing editor. He left the Her- 
ald in 1880 to become a reporter, and 
later the telegraph editor of the old 
Evening Express. In 1882 he removed 
to Auburn, N. Y.. where he edited the 
Evening Auburnian. Returning to 
New York in 1884, he entered the ser- 
vice of the Associated Press in its lo- 
cal bureau. In 18S5 he was with Gen. 
Grant, going with him to Mount 
MacGregor and remaining- with him 
until he died. The valuable services he 
rendered in this connection and the 
grajihic manner in which he covered 
the scenes attendant upon the last ill- 
ness and death of General Grant are 
matters with which every daily news- 
paper editor in the country is thor- 
oughly familiar. After Grant's death, 
Mr. Mack returned to New York, be- 
coming the day manager of the local 
bureau of the Associated Press. He 
remained in that position until 1887, 
when he entered the main service of 
the Associated Press, going to Albany 



14 



iis its represcntatix e duiiiiy the ses- 
sion of 1887-88. In June, 1888, he re- 
turned to the New York office and 
was given charge of the western ser- 
vice as night editor. Later, he became 
day editor of the same service, con- 
tinuing in that position until the fight 
with the United Press was precipitated, 
when lie was appointed New York 
agent. In this position he rendered 
valuable service to the association in 
bringing papers into the fold and in 
the general woi-k where address, di- 
plomacy and tact, which he possesses 
to a full degree, count for so much. In 
October, '96, he bcame superintendent 
of the eastern division of the Associ- 
ated Press. The discipline, the system, 
the esprit de corps of this division un- 
der his direction ai-e thoroughly in 
keeping with the character and the 
ability of the superintendent." 

Mr. Mack has also become fainous 
as a lecturer. The Star Lyceum Bu- 
reau, in presenting Mr. Mack's claims 
to the public fr-om such a standpoint. 
says: " We offer the entertainment 
committees a type of speaker entirely 
new to the lecture platform. Mr. 
Mack's talks on interesting and import- 
ant events are graphic narrations of 
his own experiences in the profession 
in which he has been successful." A 
recent critic says: " It is not often that 
a, newspaper man takes an audience 
into his confidence and tells of the in- 
side workings of newsgetting — a fact 
which makes Mr. Mack's talks the 
more interesting." Here are some of 
Mr. Mack's talks: " The Green-room of 
Journalism: " " Seeing Things, Day 
and Niglt: " "The Hidden Side:" 
" Pencil Clips: " " How News is Gath- 
ered;" "Unwritten History;" "Per- 
sonalities of Notable People." 

Jjt.-Gov. Woodruff thus compliments 
Mr. Mack: "If I had your voice, your 
presence and your style. I would want 
to be talking all the while." Rev. AVm. 
J. Hutchins, pastor of the Presbyterian 
church, Brooklyn, also writes of him: 
" Could I get our people to remember 
a sermon of mine as well as they re- 
member your lectures. I would die per- 
fectly happy." 

It was beside the deathbed of Gen- 
eral Grant that Mr. Mack first became 
known as a writer and poet of pathos 
and force. The narrative of this ex- 
perience is thus told by one of the 
pamphlets recently issued about his 
personality: 

"When General Grant, in the sum- 
mer of 1885, was slovv'ly dying on Mount 
MacGregor, Mr. Mack, as correspond- 
ent of the Associated Press, wrote the 
daily press reports printed throughout 
America and abroad. His work was 
wholly impersonal, no signature ever 
appearing beneath his dispatches. Fi- 
nally the Philadelphia Evening Bulle- 
tin, in an editorial, made these in- 
(luiries and observations: 

" 'Who is the poet of the Associated 
Pi-ess? Like all true poets, he is mod- 
est, and while he sings of everybody 
that has anything to do with the Grant 



obse<juies he himself is never named, 
and yet he is a poet, and he twangs the 
electric wires as though they wei-e 
some great harp and makes them sing 
as they never sang before. 

•' 'Some have thought that Newman 
(Gen. Grant's pastor and later Bishop 
Newman) is the poet, and others that 
the poet does the parson's work. But 
this is not so. There is not (luite 
enough of Newman in the daily song 
to warrant the idea that he is the 
singer. And there is no bombast in the 
delicate touches of the electric melo- 
dies such as there would be were they 
done by the hand that produces the 
performances that bears Newman's 
name. 

" 'In due time the poet of the Asso- 
ciated Press will be known and hon- 
ored, and all the more that he has kept 
himself so gracefully in the back- 
ground while he sung his noble song.' 

■' Taking up and extending inciuiry 
as to the identity of the correspondent 
doing the news and descriptive work of 
the Associated Press at Mount Mac- 
Gregor, the Evening Telegraph, of 
Philadelphia, said: 

" 'The Associated Press has been ex- 
ceptionally fortunate in its selection of 
a keen yet gentlemanly observer and 
singularly attractive writer of discre- 
tion and .good taste. Having daily ac- 
cess to the Grant cottage this faithful 
chronicler has kept the world informed 
of everything it had a right to know of 
the last hours of the great soldier, and 
his dispatches have been models of 
English and good sense. 

■' 'His dispatches occasionally touched 
the poetic but never exceeded the 
bounds of propriety. In a word, this 
writer at the bedside of the greatest 
of American soldiers, has been record- 
ing- history, yet even his name is, and 
probably will continue to be, unknown.' 

"These editorials reached the editor of 
the Albany (N. Y.) Evening Journal, 
who reprinted the comments and, be- 
ing a per.sonal acquaintance of Mr. 
Mack's, editorially announced his name 
as the author of the press dispatches 
during General Grant's long campaign 
against death. And together the three 
editorials floated into reprint through- 
out the United States." 

Mr. Mack's ancestors were Scotch, 
and he inherits the vigor, earnestness 
and grace of manner so characteristic 
of the cultured people of that noble 
nationality. 

Another AN^soc>!ate(1 Press I.iKlit. 

Mr. George Edward Graham is one 
of the best known journalists in New 
York State. Lately he has acquired 
national reputation as a correspondent 
during the Spanish-American war, be- 
ing at the side of Admiral Schley dur- 
mg the battle of Santiago, July 3, 1898, 
when Cervera's fleet was destroyed. 
?Jj: Graham \\as born in Albany in 
1865. He adopted journalism as a pro- 
fession when but 17 years old and made 
rapid strides in his field of labor. The 



10 



late John H. Fan-ell and ex-LTnited 
States Senatoi- Edward Murphy noticed 
his latent ability and by their efforts 
he was given a chance to develop it. 
At 19 he was city editor of the Albany 
Union; at 21 managing editor of the 
Troy Press. Next Frank W. Maclv and 
Melville E. Stone. recognizing his 
friendship-making- ciualities with public 
men, iTiade him one of the foremost 
correspondents for the Associated Press. 
His trenchant pen, faculty for gather- 
ing news with celerity, courage in fac- 
ing difficult and dangerous situations 
and thorough knowledge of and re- 
markable acquaintance with leading- 
officials, liava made liim one of the 
inost useful newspapei- men of New 
York State whore journalists are 
judged by a high standard. Mr. Gra- 
ham is now" the manager of the Al- 
bany, N. Y., bureau of tl-ie Associated 
Press, and Celtic blood runs warmly 
through his veins. 

Flo^vers of Memory. 

Many of the gentlemen I liave men- 
tioned have passed away, as I say, into 
eternity. They died comparatively 
young'. The exactions of their profes- 
sions, tlie terrible strain of metropoli- 
tan newsjiaper life and, in many cases, 
its serious temptations, wore out brave 
constitutions. It is sad to think that 
they were cut off in the \ery prime of 
tl-eir abilities and of tlieir manliood. 
They have left behind them such em- 
inently characteristic records as I have 
very cui'tly and feebly described. 
As I said in the opening, i^ would take 
volumes to describe all of the interest- 
ing incidents of their lives. Sensational 
novels have been written, fictitious and 
imaginative, but if all the main inci- 
dents of the careers of these gentle- 
men were placed in print, then it could 
truly be sai 1, "Truth is stranger than 
fiction." 

True they have passed away. IjQt us 
hope that those who knew them best 
will meet again beyond the eternal 
boundary iine. We might say with that 
emotional and picturesque poetess of 
our day. Miss Ella Wheeler Wilcox, 
whom I love so often to quote: 

"And so the grave has lost its victory 

It is but crossing with bated breath, 
And white set face a little strip of sea 

To find the loved ones waitijig on the 

shore. 

More beautiful, more jirecious than 

before." 

Special Cliaracteristies. 

Some features of the lives of my 
colleagues I would like to call especial 
attention to in this preliminary article. 
They were always loyal to employ- 
ers, always intenselj^ zealous in the 
discharge of duties, always gen- 
tlemanly in their intercourse with those 
with whom they were called to dis- 
ccurse on busiryess of their i>rofession. 
I will not say that nationality or faith 



had ever developed a bias against them 
among the ignorant or partisan class 
with which every country is cursed, 
but I will say that they and 1 have 
encountered (very rarely indeed) such a 
class in the American community. I 
know that the elder Bennett was par- 
ticularly fond of his Irish employes. I 
have further reason to know that his 
son, the present proprietor of the Her- 
ald, has no nari-ow vision that I rec- 
ognize with regard to the nationality 
or religion of those who serve him, and 
v/ho have periled their li\-es many times 
in the interests of his father and him- 
self. It may be that there are a few 
belonging to our profession in the 
Greater New York — individual workers 
— who are imbued with these ignoi'ant, 
selfish, unaccotmtable prejudices which 
has worked itself into sc'me influence 
where such influence is detrimental to 
race and creed. I recently had an 
example of this style of individual in- 
famy, in the development of my 
Bureaus of Correspondence in Europe. 
The party whom I approached in rela- 
tion to the matter talked about mj' 
standin.g with a certain editor. That 
editor intimated a "non persona 
grata" existence with regard to a 
certain leading newspai>er. The state- 
ment was ab'=olutely false. My rela- 
tions with the owner of the paper were 
entirely friendly. This employe simply 
misrepresented the situation because — 
as I conclude — of bigoted antagonism 
and the further fact that some of his 
corrupt s^'hemes had been vig"orouslj' 
thwarted through the instrumentality 
of my bureaus. I mention this incident 
merely as a warning to these gentlemen 
of Irish extraction and sentiment -who 
may be thwarted in similar ways by 
the mean jealousies of narrow-minded 
colleagues. I am free to acknowledge 
that no such sentiments with which I 
am familiar ever animated the conduct 
of such giant journalists as James Gor- 
don Bennett, Joseph Pulitzer, William 
R. Hearst, Whitelaw Reid and nearly 
all others of the great newspaper pro- 
prietors of the LTnited States wuh 
u horn I have been brought into con- 
tact. 

I'lilmly P^'orfie.'*. 

The peculiar experiences, politimi, 
legislative and congressional writers en- 
ilure under circumstances somewhat 
similar to what I have stated — notably 
through the enmities of powerful finan- 
cial intriguants — should, too, be subject 
for serious consideration. 

I have had my full share of such 
experiences. 

They commenced with the entry of 
Samuel J. Tilden into his fierce battle 
with the Tweed ring, and subsequently 
with the notorious canal ring. If some 
egotism displays itself in personal al- 
lusions of this character while dealing- 
with subjects of journalistic rivalry and 
intrigue, I must be pardoned for the 
i-easons that will appear later on. Our 
nationality has come in for consiclera- 



16 



ble oritiiis:m in iii-- expMsure of political 
robberies anrl corrupt poliiical leader- 
ship. Thai is fair in one sense but en- 
tirely unfair in another. The case in 
point— the Tweed ring-— was composed of 
four great leaders, but one of them an 
Irishman, Hall, Sweeney, Tweed and 
Connolly. Sweeney was fully exoner- 
ated, however. The canal ring, co;n- 
posed of Democrats and llepublicans. 
did not include a single Irishman in its 
leadership. There are other rings of na- 
tional di.sgrace with which the Irish are 
not particularly identified, as actual 
leaders, and I mention them simply to 
explode this ridiculous proposition. They 
were the "Credit Mobilier Rings," the 
"Whiskey Ring," the "Star Route Ring," 
and many others. 

While at Albany, I have had singular 
opportunities during my nearly twenty- 
five years of newspaper correspondence 
there during legislative sessions, to 
learn much of the "inside operations" 
where our nationality was particularly 
charged with offenses of this charactei'. 
There is no foundation whatever for 
such charges. 

Tlie "\e«- JcmriiJilisiii"' — So C'J'. • •.tl. 

While on these subjects— our nation- 
ality being responsible for much of lit- 
erary criticism, newspaper attack and 
newspaper exposure, I might say a few 
words on the journalistic policies of the 
day. 

Very recently Mr. Alfred Harms- 
worth, the noted London editor, gave us 
some excellent advice as to how we 
should conduct our newspapers. I agree 
thoroughly with most of what this gen- 
tleman says. He has forgotten to ^ay 
several things, however, which seem to 
me to be vital and important. It is 
true we want truth and exposure of 
wrong. The newspaper should be al- 
ways right. To be always right requires 
the right kind of men to guide it. The 
very "bright young man" is useful in 
his way, but where it comes to the grav- 
ity of long experience— particularly with 
public men and their methods — the 
"bright young man" is not so useful. It 
took me years of personal intercourse 
with public men (in New York, Albany 
and Washington and otlier parts of the 
country) before I could begin to e.-!ti- 
mate their characters, to understand 
their extrao;d:nary settled methods and 
their "lightning changes" in the face of 
public attention and public criticism. 

Will it be considered radical when I 
state that a great mass of the commun- 
ity, where public men and public poli- 
cies are concerned, are "asses" and 
generally "fed with straw?" 

I recently noticed an' article in one of 
the New York dailies, several columns 
in length, giving a most flattering ac- 
count of the surroundings, career and 
personal character of a gubernatorial 
candidate. To read that article you 
would imagine the gentleman men- 
tioned was trying- to conceal very elab- 
orate ang-elic wings under a gorgeous 
overcoat. A three column article a few 



days subsequently in another journal 
gave a lengthy history of the same 
gentleman's legislative operations, 
which would entitle him, if these alle- 
gations were true, to a cell for life at 
Sing Sing. 1 am afraid that article v as 
entirely too severe. 

Now which of these articles are the 
public to rely upon? 

That is a difficult question to ask. 
Either of the papers must have been 
wrong. What are the readers to do in 
order to be properly informed? Mr. 
Harmsworth might answer some of 
these queries. The ideal newspaper 
may yet arrive when they will all be 
answered correctly. The great issues 
before us in public and private life will 
have to be settled right if this republic 
is to last. 
"Man bo'.ve-l down with labor: 

^^oman young, yet old; 
Heart depressed in the toiler's breast, 

And crushed by the power of gold. 
Keep on with your weary battle, 

.Against triumphant might; 
A 'I iiuestion is ever settled 

I'ntil it is settled right." 

I'ersoujil KxiU'rieiiees Jiinl Ample 
Ajiologies. 

My own personal experiences may not 
be subjects for obtrusion in an article 
of this description. There are some 
luatters of importance, however, that I 
find absolutely necessary to present in 
view of my identity with the grand 
cause for which the Irish American 
Historical Society was inaugurated, and 
also as part of the brief narrative sur- 
rounding the lives of the gentlemen I 
have thus far named. I assert positively 
without fear of contradiction, that the 
Irish have had more solid influejvro on 
the press of New York city, as v.-cll as 
on the press of other great cities like 
London, Liverpool, St. Louis, Chicago, 
San Francisco and many more large 
centres of population, than any other 
national representatives on the face of 
the earth. 

Joliii Kelly vs. J. G. Bennett. 

My experiences brought me into one 
of the most laborious battles of the last 
century between Mr. John Kelly, the 
predecessor of Richard Croker, and Mr. 
James Gordon Bennett, Jr. For some 
two years .this contest was waged with 
the bitterest virulence on both sides. 
Article after article was prepared by 
me in denunciation and exposure of 
Kelly's methods. Ultimately, our side 
triumphed and Kelly was expelled from 
the comptrollership. 

That night I went home to the Con- 
tinental Hotel. New York, where I 
stopped at the time, the fight being 
ended, and for several days was seized 
with a most deathly sickness. Brain 
fever ^\as threatened: the strain of the 
fight and the anxiety attendant thereon 
had done their Avork. Convalescent 
and feeble, I had to leave my sick 
room and go to Albany and again en- 



17 



tor into tho cxriting' ccinti'iiversios tlieii 
a.iAitatiiii;- tho legisluUve and political 
field. 

The I'Isitt-Conlilin«- Senatorial 
StiMiitsle. 

Another terrific pclitieal struggle 
wiiich empliasizes tlie strains and 
trouble? of newspaper life, centered 
around the famous senatorial contro- 
versy at Albany, when Mr. T. C. Piatt 
and Mr. Roscoe Conkling resigned from 
the United States Senate. That fight 
brought about the assassination of 
President Garfield, the disruption of 
the Republican party between the 
" Stalwarts " and " Half Breeds," and 
paved the way some months after- 
ward for the election of Grover Cleve- 
land to the governorship by nearly 
200,000 majority. 

I was in the midst of tliis con- 
flict from its initiation to the end. I 
stopped at the Delavan House, where 
also stopped Senators Conkling and 
Piatt and Vice-President Arthur, up 
to the time of tlie latter's elevation to 
the Preridency. The struggle is matter 
of liistory. Tts inception, its incidents, 
tragic, comic and gross are also 
matters with whicli the country is 
familiar. Two of the leading figures of 
that time, Messrs. Conkling and Ar- 
thur, have gone to their last resting 
place. Senator Piatt lives and reigns 
as the biggest Republican of the 
country next to that versatile gentle- 
n'.an whom we occasionally hear of, 
Mark Hanna. When I look back on 
those days, T can congratulate myself: 
although knowing much of the inside 
history of this sti-uggle, that I never 
descended, as otliers did in a literary 
way, to the unholy sewers of unholy 
attack against Mr. Piatt. The con- 
spiracy and the conspirators were of 
the meanest kind. Although I may 
differ, and have differed as an inde- 
pendent Avriter. with Mr. Piatt in very 
many of his plans and policies, I still 
to this day congratulate him on the 
victory he achieved at that time, and 
his march to power and influence in 
his party, growing out, mainly, I think, 
of the mean, false and contemptible 
subterfuges that were then resorted to 
to destroy him as a political leadei-. 

In concluding these partial reminis- 
cences, I must further apologize for 
the very serious aspect and egotism 
presented in many instances. 

They could not be presented other- 
wise. The compensation and remuner- 
ations of a newspaper life are exces- 
sively limited and barren. Many of 
the gentlemen T have named have .gone. 
as I said to their graves. 1 will not say 
unwept, but " unhonored and unsung." 
Several met with tragic fates. 

Espeeial Features in 3let rojiol i (an 
•Toiirnali.siii. 

The Irish race and its dn-ect descend- 
ants, then, have influenced beyond the 
direct knowledge of millions of to-day 
many of the more momentous In- 



cidenls in Amci-ican histoi'y. Let 
mc here suiimiarize very briefly some 
of thi- more important, as far as my 
own immediate experience goes: — It 
was a New York .iournallst of Irish 
descent (through a chain of peculiar 
circumstances) who was mainly instru- 
mental in securing the election of 
Grover Cleveland to the White House 
in 1884 — that distinguished gentleman's 
first successful race for the Presidency. 

It was a New York journalist of Irish 
descent that first opened the literary 
battle against the "Canal Ring," for 
which .Samuel .1. Tilden was lauded to 
the skies throughout the United States 
and nominated to the Presidency over 
the ruins of that notorious combine 
and also over the downfall of the 
"Tweed Ring." 

It was a New York journalist of 
Irish descent who inaugurated at Al- 
bany exposure of the situation 
under which a famous judge of the 
Supreme Court was exhibited, over 
twenty j'ears a,go, as the tool of cor- 
rupt financial rings, leading to great 
judicial reforms. 

It was a New York journalist of Irish 
descent who fought side by side, night 
and day, with Samuel J. Tilden, more 
vigorously than anybody else, in a lit- 
erary sense, in forcing the New York 
street railroad lobby to the wall and 
passing the rapid transit law. 

It was a New York journalist of Irish 
descent who explained to the public 
the "inside" workings of the well- 
knoA\"n State jnison contract ring, 
thereby destroying- its nefarious powers. 

It was a New York journalist of Irish 
descent who supported Theodore Roose- 
\e]t in all his independent reformatory 
work when the present Vice-President 
of the United States came to Albany 
as an assemlDlyman and when nearly 
everybody else was silent in a legisla- 
tive sense. 

It was a New York journalist of Irish 
descent who, for very many years, 
fought the solidly entrenched cohorts 
of manipulated news and financial con- 
tiol in Nev,- York and Albany, and still 
lontinues that battle. 

Fearing- any misapprehension or mis- 
representation I am compelled to say 
that these lines of professional duty 
have been my own individual work. 
No man more than I. therefore, can 
appreciate the ingratitude, jealousy 
and virulent intrigue in certain quar- 
ters that have followed the honest, in- 
dependent discharge of such onerous 
duties. 

It was ,a. New York journalist of Irish 
descent, ton, who started the indejiendent 
"Intei-naMonal. National and State News 
Bureaus" at New York, T^^ashington 
and Albany to let everybody who 
wanted to know precise news situa- 
tions at those centres. 

Is Til is Prophetic? 

To the high officials, dastardly un- 
grateful and meanlj' vain in grasping 
the brains and work of this character 
without credit and without recogni- 



18 



ti<in. rc'diliution is sure to come in its 
own good lime. When right occasions 
offer I propose to enlighten the public 
fully on the "Inside" history of such 
situations. The task will be a happy 
and a wholesome one — happy for me, 
whofesome to the gveat reading: public 
so often shamefully deceived by power- 
ful officials and ex-officials posing as 
"statesmen.'" 

TraiKody mill t'oiilli«-t — S«»iiie SeriiMis 

One of the first of my assistants while 
acting- as correspondent in Albany was 
a Mr. A. M. Soteldo, a very brilliant 
writer previously connected with the 
New "V ork Sun. He was killed in 
Washington in an altercation in a 
newspaper office. Another of my 
as.sistants committed suicide. A third, 
my very dear friend. Mr. O'Connor, 
died in New York as I described. 

Music and flowers, marble monu- 
ments, crowded processions, loud paens 
of sorrow serve to embellish the path- 
wayfi to. the grave of men supposed to 
be distinguished in their varied walks 
of life. I have seen the politician car- 
ried to the grave amid these glittering 
surroundings. He probably did not 
at all deserve them. So. too, have I 
seen su.ch gorgeous pageants following 
the wake of the wealthy and the 
proud. Many of them were entirely 
undeserving. To the heroes of the 
newspaper pen, to the men who toil in 
season and out of season, in daylight 
and darkness, in snow and sleet, in 
storm and sunshine, loyal and true, 
there came on this last journey noth- 
ing but the tears of the faithful wife, 
of the sobbing relative, or the tender 
tramp of the loving friend behind his 
coffin. Their work was scarcely recog- 
nized personally while living, and was 
bmied Avith them in the grave. The 
only monument that can be raised to 
them to-day is the monument that I 
feebly attempt to place among the 
archives of history in this feeble way. 
Their compensation comes from a 
higher Power. Their financial compen- 
sation in this world was especially 
meagre in view of their terribly wear- 
ing duties and the magnificient results 
of such duties. 

r'annot something be done to relieve 
this ajipalling situation? 

Can T not call the earnest attention 
of my colleagues of the New York Press 
Club and of other press clubs through- 
out the country to this sad condition 
of affairs? T know well of what I 
speak. 

A I'lfji for " Kxperieiice.'' 

A ridiculous sentiment, too, has been 
thrown out to the "bright young man," 
as best equipped for the newspaper 
work of the day. That may be true from 
certain standpoints, but I can repeat 
that T have read with interest and with 
considerable acquiescence the reform- 
atory ideas put forth by Mr. Harms- 



worth, but there are other reforms of 
a far more important and necessary 
nature. 

There is a vast unexplored, colored 
and manipulated line of news all over 
the country notably in Washington, 
Albany and New York, that never is 
at ali adequately or independently 
touched upon by the newspapers of to- 
day. Attacks are often times started 
on situations vital to human rights and 
human liberties that go just so far 
and no further. Continuity until suc- 
cess is achieved in these attacks is the 
only course. I know well of the sur- 
roundings which smother such at- 
tacks. I have suffered from the 
intrigues and the intriguers. My cor- 
respondence bureaus are especially or- 
ganized, among other things, to get at 
this peculiar situation. I am glad to 
say that I have succeeded in many 
directions. The intriguer finds himself 
chloroformed before he knows "where 
he is at." 

This line of policy in the promotion 
of reformation of journalistic progress 
seems to me to be far and away above 
the suggestions presented by Mr. 
Harmsworth. I believe this gentleman, 
as I say, to be right. "Tabloid" jour- 
nalism is grood, no doubt, but if you get 
the whole people to recognize the great 
fact that the paper is true to all in- 
terests, right in all directions, con- 
trolled by experienced men who know 
what they are doing, unapproachable 
in any way whatever, w^e have the 
ideal newspaper. The men of mature 
"experience" who fought the good fight 
for years, who know public men and 
their ingenious ways, who have min- 
gled for years in, financial centres, 
brushed elbows in the theatrical pro- 
fession, and for a lengthy time gradu- 
ated in all the walks of public and 
private life, are the editors to direct 
newspapers. The "bright young- man," 
of course, will be useful, too, I am 
talking, as you will notice, somewhat 
egotistically from my own standpoints. 
I have gone through this crucible of 
"experience." I cannot say I belong to 
the bright "young" men but possibly 
to the "bright mature men." Nobodv 
can say that Mr. James Gordon Ben- 
nett, with his fifty-nine years of life, 
his vigor of intellect, his matchless 
world-wide experience, and his varied 
accomplishments, has grown feeble in 
his management and control of the 
Herald. I am of the same age myself. 
The same arguments can apply to Mr 
Pulitzer, of the World, who, I think, is 
still older than Mr. Bennett- Mr 
Whitelaw Peid, of the Tribune, i.s older 
than any of us. His abilities are not in 
the least dimmed by long years of ex- 
perience. If such idiotic arguments 
were to apply, we would not have such 
grand examples of intellectual force as 
exhibited in the cases of Leo XIII 
Lord Salisbury, Disraeli, Cardinal New- 
man, Cardinal Manning, Bismarck 
Count Tolstoi, Victor Hugo. Longfellow; 
Wilham Cullen Bryant and many 
others. 



I h;i\i' yel tho ambition, and 1ki\i^ 
strong- hopes of cai-rying it out, of hav- 
ing a great daily paper myself, 
conducted on just such principles as I 
enumerated. The "bright young man" 
will be there and the "experienced" 
man. I certainly vote every time for 
the "man of experience." 

Sliai-it Worrt.s. 

Recently I read a most forcible arti- 
cle in the New York Sun (a splendidly 
managed newspaper by the way), in 
denunciation of some journalistic meth- 
ods of the present day, and compli- 
mentary of the past. I cannot refrain 
from using a few lines of this article 
in co'n-oboration of what 1 lay down 
now in this connection. 

The writer said: "A few years back 
the i-ivalry was to make interesting, 
instructive, educational papers. There 
was a legitimacy of business method 
and an honesty of purpose in the edi- 
torial field. Newspapers were made to 
be read for the instructive news or 
<)]i!nions they contained, and the 
world was better for it all. There were 
men of brains in the management, not 
mere vaudeville performers bent on 
lightning change acts and trick mules' 
performances, for the jnctorial exposi- 
tions of the town's latests indecency on 
a roof gai'den. There wer-e di-amatic 
Clitics who criticised plays, not men 
who pandered to the prurient tastes of 
the community in columns of indecent 
insinuations. There were men who 
\\ere conspicuous among the people of 
the city for their intelligence and their 
earnestness, not men who drew their 
inspiration from brothels and other 
foul sinks, through A\hich streams of 
filth are constantly flowing to the nas- 
tier sewers." 

A Ff»v Stroiiw ^Vor«ls in roin-lnsioii. 

Tn concluding this hastily constructed 
review of a portion of my own journal- 
istic experiences. T must for the third 
time apologize for certain egotisms 
which may be (juite apparent. They 
ai-e undoubtedly a necessity, in order 
that the whole train of Celtic literary 
efforts in New York city on the lines 
laid down may be made more emphatic 
and interesting. Together with many 
of my colleagues. I frequently periled 
my life and health in the interest of 
Mr. Pc-nnett and his papers. Notably 
was this the case while acting as cor- 
resicndent at th^^ close of the civil 
war in Savannah, just after Sherman's 
fan^ous march to the sea; and also 
dui-inc the draft riots of 1863, where T 
was an eye-witness to many traaredies 
and of terrible scenes of mob violence, 
and during the fierce political fights in 
which 7 took part. 

T think it a duty that I owe to mv 



ciillcagiics to c-mii]iliincnl a distin- 
guished bi-olher nC the .Vmerican Irish 
Historical Society, \\ho has been the 
consistent friend for many years of 
several of those gentlemen whom I 
named, on the New York press. That 
is Mr John D. Crimmins, whose dis- 
tinction as an American and as an 
Irishman, as well as his identity with 
Irish American interests in a most 
worthy way, both in church and state, 
are well known. His literary taste has 
secured one of the finesit libraries in 
the country, and some of the rarest 
paintings. 

<i«-oi-««- \V. ( liilds. 

Just before^ his death, I had a lon.g 
and interesting talk at Philadelphia, 
with that splendid journalist and 
philanthropist, Mr. George W. Childs, 
proijrietor of "iThe Ledger." He 
alluded feelingly and dramatically to 
the hardships and tragedies of news- 
paper life and its ill-requited attaches. 
I knew of Mr. Childs' care for his own 
employes — by rich gifts, pensions and 
other valuable attention during their 
lives — and also knew this grand 
editor's heart beat true to the brightest 
instincts of liumanity and gratitude to 
such faithful employes. I then thought 
of the sad ends in po\'erty and neglect 
which burthened the i)assing away of 
many of the dear friends I have men- 
tioned in this article, and hoped that 
such cold-heartedness and neglect 
would give wav to the example of Mr. 
Childs. 

As I i)arted from him, he clasped my 
hand ■<varmly, saying: " The greatest 
pleasures I have had in life were in 
the gi\'";ng away to others of my riches 
— those worthy of help and who served 
me faithfully while on my news- 
jiaper." 

Pea'-p. eternal peace to this great 
journalist. 

HfWiird ami Dii*.-*. 

The blood and brains of my Irish col- 
leagues have been freely and loyally 
gi\'en, and is to-day being given, in the 
ser\icc of the great journals of the 
United States. Their reward may be of 
the most remote character, but I am 
confident they will always fight for the 
right, and always onward. 

" Together on^\■^rd o'er future hills. 
The dawn fall.'^ cool and sweet. 
Together onuard. He can win who 

wills 
And bo^^•s not to defeat. 
Together onward. Though your jiath 

m,ay lie 
Through calumny and slime. 
The way will brighten by and by. 
Together onward and bide your time." 

THOMAS J. CUMMINS. 



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